Sheriff assumes duty at PDP Hqts amid tight security

The Court of Appeal recognized National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Alli Modu Sheriff, yesterday, assumed duty at the party’s national secretariat amidst tight security.
The tight security, Daily Times gathered, was not unconnected with the protests by the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi that Sheriff cannot move into the secretariat in view of the fact that it (the NCC) has filed for stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgement.
The NCC, it will be recalled, had on Monday specifically called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to throw out Sheriff from the office, alleging that he broke into the office without due authorization.
But Sheriff, after formally moving into the party’ national secretariat, assured concretely that the party will not die in his hands.
Sheriff, a two-term former Borno state governor and erstwhile senator, while addressing a delegation of party members from Imo State, during a solidarity visit on him at the PDP headquarters, popularly known as ‘Wadata House,’ reiterated his call to all aggrieved members of the party to join hands with him in rebuilding the party.
The visit of the Imo delegation, which was led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, Sheriff pointed out, has put a lie to claims by his traducers that he does not enjoy the support of PDP members at the grassroots.
Notwithstanding, the national chairman stated, repeatedly, that he would not join issues with anyone regarding the leadership dispute in the party.
His words: “Every day, I say I don’t want to join issues, but every day when I open the pages, I read stories that give me doubt about this people, the respect I give them, whether they are truly deserving of it.
“This party belongs to all of us. After the judgment, the first statement I made is let us come together and rebuild this party. We are not going to give this party to people who are not members of this party.
“People should go back to their states and get the party together. Time will tell who is right and who is wrong. And Nigerians are watching.
“I still appeal to everybody, let’s come together. Let us work together. By the grace of God, this ship will not capsize. The cargo will not sink” , he assured.
While expressing his appreciation to the Imo PDP members for the solidarity visit, the PDP national chairman promised to support women in the party to get 30 representation in elective offices.
Earlier, the former Minister of Information, Professor Walter Ofonagoro, who was part of the delegation, has said that the people of the state abhor illegality and impunity, hence the decision to identify with Sheriff.
Ofonagoro, however, called for an end to the leadership tussle in the party, stating the PDP crisis is hurting Nigerians.
His words: “We have the highest regard for the rule of law. That is why we are here. We are here because we cannot allow a situation whereby a vacuum is allowed in our party.”
The former Minister called on Sheriff to strive for reconciliation between all feuding members of party, so that the party can move forward.
Our reporter noticed that the PDP national secretariat is already wearing a new look as series of renovation work and face lifting works are going on there.
Policemen and men of the National Security and a Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), are visibly on ground to provide security at the secretariat.